Welding technology to reduce submarine dock dependency
Posted: 22 March 2006
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UMC International together with Devonport Management Limited and Oceaneering International has developed a breakthrough in underwater welding capability that can undertake submarine repairs, involving the welding of high strength steels without docking.
 These welds procedure qualifications, recently approved by the British Ministry of Defence Sea Technology Group represent the culmination of an 18-month development programme by the UK/US alliance among UMC, Davenport and Oceaneering.
The underwater welding capability was originally developed for the US Navy under the direction of the US Department of Defence Underwater Ships Husbandry Programme Office.
The qualifications were conducted at an Oceaneering facility in Louisiana, with final qu alification completed just two days before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. Barry Richards, Davenport’s Welding Design and NDT Manager said: “This new welding capability will significantly reduce submarine dock dependency. With dock availability at a premium, this offers significant savings and benefit to the Ministry of Defence.”
This new capability will be used initially to blank and seal floodable openings on RN Submarines in support of submarine in-water decommissioning. The technology can also be developed for other naval applications and industries that have an underwater welding requirement.
UMC International, specialists in waterborne ship maintenance, has permanent offices in Dubai, Fujairah, Southampton, Plymouth, Portland and Rotterdam.
Posted by Editor Offshore Arabia Magazine
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